Adhesive-tape holder and moistener.



W. E. FLEMING.

ADHESIVE TAPE HOLDER AND MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19.1915.

1,185,991. Patel t ig l gl gl6. x "A w M1 i 1 1 JOHN DO:

DRUGGIST Witnesses Inventor Attorneys W. E. FLEMING.

ADHESIVE TAPE HOLDER AND MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FI LED JULY 19, I915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- W. E. FLEMING.

ADHESIVE TAPE HOLDER AND MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19.1915.

Patented June 6, 1916,

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Attorneys 1% Inventor IKE 17K;

Witnesses ,THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPI. cm, WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES WARREN E. FLEMING, OF MANHATTAN, KANSAS.

ADHESIVE-TAPE HOLDER AND MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed July 19, 1915. Serial No. 40,732.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TVARREN E. FLEMING,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Manhattan, in the county ofRiley and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Adhesive-TapeHolder and Moistener, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to tape holders and moisteners, andaims to provide a novel and improved appliance of that nature.

It is the object of the invention to provide an appliance of the natureindicated adapted to hold one or more rolls of gummed tape, and soconstructed and operable, that the tape may be readily grasped by thethumb and fingers to pull the desired length of tape from the device,the adhesive being moistened at the same time,

. and the moistened portion of the tape benovel means for gripping andholding the free terminal of the tape, novel means for moistening thetape, novel means for supplying water to the moistening means, and acutter cooperating with the tape holding and gripping means whereby whenthe tape is pulled out to the length desired, it may be readily cut ofi.

With the foregoing and other. objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of description hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a plan view of the appliance, portions being broken away.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the appliance with portions removed to show theinterior parts. Fig. 3,

is a longitudinal vertical section taken ap proximately on the line 33of Fig. 1. F 1g.

lis a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. is a transversevertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a suitable base or stand1, formin the frame of the appliance, and provided with a compartment orchamber 2 for the rolls of tape. Spanning or bridging the compartment 2is a transverse shaft or spindle 3 which has its terminals seated inbearings or seats 4 secured upon the base 1 at the opposite sides of thecompartment 2 between the ends of said compartment, whereby said shaft 3may be readily removed by lifting it out of the bearings 4 when it isdesired to replace the rolls of tape 5 carried by the shaft 3. The shaft3 may be readily slipped through the central apertures of the rolls, andthen when the shaft 3 is placed within the bearings 4, the rolls will besupported for rotation within the compartment 2.

In order to properly position the rolls within the compartment 2, anadjustable rack 6 is provided within the compartment 2, said rackembodying end strips or members 7 having slotted portions 8 forreceiving the ends of longitudinal partition or division strips 9. Theend strips 7 are supported upon cleats 10 secured to the base 1 at theends of the compartment 2, and the slotted portions 8 of the end strips7 are so arranged, that the strips 9 may be adjusted for accommodatingvarious widths of tapes, and for holding the rollsof tape at the properpositions.

A cover or hood 11 for the compartment 2, is hinged at one end, as at12, upon the base 1 at one end of the compartment 2, the cover 11normally resting upon the base for closing the compartment 2 and housingthe tape rolls therein. The free end of the cover 11 has an opening 13for the passage of the tape therethrough. The cover 11 is also providedat its free end with depending pins 1i adapted to enter sockets 15provided in the top of the base 1, whereby the cover 11 is held in placewhen it is closed. The base 1 also carries an upper latch 16 engageablewith the free end of the cover when the cover is closed, forholding thecover down, the latch 16 being readily released by hand when it isdesired to swing the cover open. The rack 6 is narrower than thecompartment 2, to provide a space 17 at one side of the rack forreceiving extra rolls of tape 18 which may be subsequently applied tothe shaft 3 to replace exhausted rolls.

Coming to the mechanism for holding and moistening the free terminals ofthe tape, the same embodies a transverse water receptacle 19 mountedupon the base 1 at the free end of the cover 11 and adjacent therespective end of the compartment 2. This receptacle 19 may bedetachably mounted upon.

the base 1, if desired, and to this end, a

plate 20 is secured upon the base and has its transverse edges bent backupon itself, as at 21, to provide guides for receiving the loweroutturned flanges 22 of the receptacle 19. This allows the receptacle tohe slid laterally onto and off of the base.

The receptacle or trough 19 is supplied with water from a circular orshort cylindrical water reservoir 23 mounted upon one end portion of thereceptacle 19. This reservoir 23 is rotatably seated within an arouatecarrier 24 having the low sides 25, said carrier having the dependingspout portion 26 fitting tightly within one end of the receptacle 19 tohold the carrier 24 in place. The terminals of the carrier 24 projectupwardly and the reservoir 23 is seated within the carrier so that thereservoir may be turned upside down readily. The periphery of thereservoir 23 has an aperture 27, and the reservoir is normally sopositioned that the aperture 27 is at the bottom, the lower portion ofthe reservoir depending within the receptacle 19, whereby the lowerportion of the reservoir will dip in the water within the receptacle.

As a means for removably holding the reservoir 23 in place, a doubledresilient rod 28, forming a holding member, has its intermediate portionor bend hingedly connected, as at 29, to that terminal of the guide 24remote from the cover 11, and the resilient limbs 30 of the bar orholder28 are curved or arched to normally lie over the reservoir 23 forholding the reservoir seated within the carrier 24. The free ends of thelimbs 30 are provided with outturned fingers 31 engageable in eyes orkeepers 32 provided upon the other terminal of the carrier 24, thetension of the limbs 30 tending to separate them for holding the fingers31' within the eyes 32, but when the limbs 30 are pressed toward oneanother, the fingers 31 will be retracted or withdrawn from the eyes 32,to allow the holder 23 to be swung off of the reservoir, thus allowingthe reservoir to be lifted or removed from the carrier 24. The peripheryof the reservoir 23 is provided with an outstanding finger piece 33movable between the limbs 30 of the holder 28, and arranged atapproximately quadrature with respect to the aperture 27, whereby whenthe finger piece 33 is moved against or adjacent one terminal of the carrier 24, the aperture 27 will be brought to lowermost position, and whenthe finger piece 33 is moved to the other terminal of the carrier, theaperture 27 will be brought uppermost.

A plate 34, forming a cover for the receptacle 19 is disposed upon saidreceptacle at the side of the reservoir 23, and is hinged, as at 35, tothat side of the reservoir adjacent the cover 11, the hinged connectionbeing such that when the plate 34 is swung upwardly, it may be detachedfrom the receptacle 19, for purpose of repair, cleaning or readjustment.The plate 34 has an opening 36 adjacent the hinge 35, or the inner sideof the receptacle 19, over which opening the tape holding means isdisposed.

The tape holding means embodies a plate or leaf 37 disposed over orwithin the opening 36 and hinged, as at 38, to the plate 34 adjacent thehinge 35, the free edge of the plate 37 being spaced slightly from therespective edge of the opening 36 to provide a slot 36. The plate 37 has acurved lip 39 above or adjacent the hinge 38, and has an upstanding rib40 along its free edge adj acent the slot 36. A tape holding or grippingstrip 41 is disposed within the depression between the lip 39 and rib40, and has one end hinged, as at 42, upon one end of I the plate 37,and a slidable latch 43 is car ried by the free portion of the strip 41and is engageable with a keeper 44 carried by the other end of the plate37, so that when the strip 41 is swung downwardly to frictionally gripor hold the tape thereunder upon the plate 37, the latch 43 may beprojected into engagement with the keeper 44 for holding the strip 41 inplace. The strip 41 has an upturned flange 45 adjacent the rib 40 forguiding the tape over said rib, and to hold the free terminal 5 of thetape in an upwardly projecting inclined position. as seen in F ig. 3,whereby the terminal of the tape may be readily grasped by the thumb andfinger for purpose of drawing the tape outwardly. The plate or leaf 37may swing upwardly slightly above the horizontal plane of the plate 34,and the up ward movement of the plate 37 is limited by means of a stop46 carried by the free end of the cover 11, in order that the plate 37will not swing upwardly excessively.

A cutter blade, 47, preferably having its cutting edge serrated, iscarried by brackets 48 attached to the free end of the cover 11, theblade 47 overhanging the tape holding means, whereby the tape may bereadily cut, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The tape moistener embodies an oscilla tory frame 49 mounted within thereceptacle 19. This frame comprises side bars or arms 50 connected atone end by a cross piece or strip 51., and at their other end bv a crosspiece or yoke 52. A removable rock shaft 53 is engaged through the sidebars adjacent or below the strip 51 and has one terminal journaled tothat end of the receptacle 19 remote from the reservoir 23, while theother end of the shaft 53 is journaled to a transverse partition securedwithin the receptacle 19 adjacent the reservoir. The frame 49 is thusmounted to oscillate about a horizontal aXis, since the shaft 53 isdisposed horizontally adjacent the outer side of the receptacle 19.Attached to the yoke or strip 52 at the free portion of the frame 49, isan upstanding or angularly projecting arch 56, preferably formed fromwire, and having its ends secured to the yoke 52. A doubled sheet offelt 57, or equivalent material, is disposed over the arch 56, and theedgesportions of the felt 57 are clamped against the yoke 52 by means ofa swinging clasp 58 terminally pivoted to the bars 50 adjacent the yoke52, as at 59, and having a toothed or serrated lip to engage the feltwhen the clasp 58 is swung thereagainst, so that the felt will be heldtaut. The edges of the felt preferably project below the yoke 52, toseat upon the bottom of the receptacle 19, for providing a cushion. Thiswill prevent any noise when the frame 49 drops within the waterreceptacle 19. By loosening the clasp 58, the felt 57 may be adjusted orreplaced when worn out.

The moistener frame 49 is normally swung downwardly within the waterreceptacle below the top plate 34 thereof, and in order to swing theframe 49 upwardly, a presser plate 61 is hinged upon the plate 34, as at62, adjacent the opening 36, and an arched link 63 has its intermediateportion hinged or pivoted to the bottom of the plate 61 adjacent thefree edge ofsaid plate. The limbs of the link 63 work through suitableopenings provided in the plate 34, and said limbs are provided withterminal forks 64 below the plate 34 within the receptacle 19. The forks64 straddle or engage a wire or rod secured to the short arm of theframe 49 which projects beyond the fulcrum shaft of said frame, the longarm of said frame carrying the felt, wick or moistening elemeat 57. Therod 65 is preferably soldered or otherwise attached to the edge of thestrip 51, and said edge of the strip is provided with notches 66 foraccommodating the forks 64. The weight of the long arm of the frame orlever 49 and parts carried thereby causes said arm to swing downwardlywhen the moistener is released, and this will raise the link 63 forraising the plate 61 ofi of theplate 34. When the plate (31 is depressedby hand, the frame 49 will be swung upwardly to force the felt 57upwardly through the slot 36, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3. I

The appliance illustrated is capable of accommodating a number of rollsof tape, in

order that one roll of tape may be plain,

the device, as will presently appear, only one tape will be considered,stood that the use of a a mere duplication.

To supply the receptacle 19 with water, the receptacle is filled withwater up to the level of the aperture 27, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, andthe reservoir 23 is then filled with water to maintain the level of thewater within the receptacle 19. The reservoir 23 is filled as follows:The finger piece 33 is moved from the position seen in Fig. 4, to theopposite side, which will bring the aperture 27 to the top, to preventany water remaining within the reservoir 23 from spilling. Then, theterminals of the limbs 30 of the holder 28 are pressed together by thefingers, to withdraw the fingers 31 from the eyes 32, and this allowsthe holder 28 to be swung ofi of the reservoir 23. The reservoir maythen be lifted out of the carrier 24, so that water may be poured or runthrough the aperture 27 for filling the reservoir. The reservoir is thenreplaced within the carrier 24, with the finger piece 33 adjacent thehinge 29 of the holder 28, so that the aperture 27 is uppermost, and thefingers 31 of the holder 28 are then reapplied to the eyes 32 forholding the reservoir in position. The reservoir may then be inverted tobring the aperture 27 lowermost, by moving the finger piece 33 to theposition illustrated in Fig. 4, it being noted that ordinarily, thewater within the receptacle 19 forms a closure or seal for the aperture27. Then the water level within the receptacle 19 lowers, during the useof the device, sufficient water is allowed to flow from the reservoir 23for filling the receptacle 19 to the normal water level, and in thismanner the water level within the receptacle is maintained normal untilthe supply of Water within the reservoir 23 is exhausted. The reservoirmay then be refilled in the manner above indicated.

To apply the tape 5 to the tape holder, ready for use, the free terminalof the tape may be readily passed outwardly when the cover 11 is opened,and the holding strip 41 is then swung upwardly by releasing the latch43 thereof from the keeper 44, so that the free terminal of the tape canbe placed upon the lip 39 and rib 40 under the strip 41. The strip 41 isthen swung downwardly to hold the tape within the depression between thelip 39 and rib 40, whereby the free terminal of the tape will befrictionally held in place, the latch 43 being again projected it beingunderplurality of tapes is through the keeper H to hold the strip il inplace. The cover 11 is again swung closed, which will bring the stop 46and cutter blade %7 properly above the tape holder. The free terminal 5of the tape will project upwardly in an inclined position, as seen inFig. 3, in order that the terminal of the tape may be readily grasped bythe thumb and finger.

In using the appliance, the plate 61 is depressed, so as to swing theframe 49 upwardly, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which will causethe felt 57 and its holder 56 to move upwardly through the opening 36 soas to project above the plates 3%- and 37. When the felt 57 and itsholder 56 are moved upwardly, they swing against the under side of theplate 37 adjacent the free edge of said plate. and this swings the plate37 upwardly slightly to allow the felt and its holder to pass upwardlythrough the slot 36. After the felt has moved upwardly to properposition, the plate 37 is released and falls back to normal position, sothat the free edge of the plate 37 engages and grips the felt 57 and itsholder 56, for holding them in raised or projected position. The plate37 thus acts as a dog or detent for holding the felt or moisteningelement in raised position, after the plate 61 is released. Now, whenthe terminal 5 of the tape is grasped and pulled outwardly in anapproximately horizontal line as suggested by the arrow A in Fig. 3, thelower gummed side of the strip will be brought against the moistenedfelt 57, and will be drawn thereover for moistening the gum or adhesive,the tape or strip being drawn outwardly in the meantime to the lengthdesired. After the tape has been pulled out the desired amount, it maybe cut off by carrying the tape upward toward the cutter blade d7. Thiswill swing the plate 37 upwardly toward the cutter blade, to re leasethe moistener, so that it will again drop back into the waterreceptacle, and the upward movement of the plate 37 will also reduce thespace between the tape holder and cutter blade. This results in shortpiece of tape projecting from the holder when the tape is cut. The tapeis cut by drawing it against the active edge of the blade 4:7, and thenmoving the terminal of the tape to one side, so that the blade i7 willsever the tape. This will leave a new terminal 5 which will swing backto the position illustrated in Fig. 3, whereby the appliance is again incondition for use. It is thus an easy matter, with the presentcontrivance, to withdraw the desired length or amount of tape, wherebythe adhesive is moistened automatically at the same time, and in orderthat the tape may then be cut off conveniently. The operation iscomparatively simple and convenient. The tape may be used in stores andelsewhere for divers purposes, for example, the tape may be used forlabeling, sealing and binding various packages, bundles, and the like.The other advantages and attributes of the invention are thought to bemanifest to those versed in the art without further comment beingnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a covertherefor having a slot, tape holding means at one side of said slot, amovably mounted moistener within the receptacle having a moisteningelement project-able upwardly through said slot, means for moving saidelement upwardly through said slot, and means for holding said elementin raised position.

2. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a covertherefor having a slot, tape holding means upon the cover at one side ofsaid slot,a tape moistener movably mounted within the receptacle andhaving a moistening element projectable upwardly through said slot, andmeans carried by said cover at the other side of said slot andoperatively connected to the moistener for projecting the moisteningelement upwardly through said slot.

3. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a covertherefor having an opening, a movably mounted moistener within thereceptacle and havinga moistening element projectable upwardly throughsaid opening, and a movably mounted tape holder past which themoistening element is movable and adapted to hold said moisteningelement in raised position.

i. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a covertherefor having an opening, a movably mounted moistener within thereceptacle and having a moistening element projectable upwardly throughsaid opening, -a movably mounted tape holder adapted to hold saidmoistening element in raised position, and a movable member disposedupon said plate at that side of said opening remote from the tape holderand operatively connected to the moistener for moving the moisteningelement upwardly through said opening.

In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a coverplate therefor having an opening, a inoistenerinovably mounted withinsaid receptacle and having a moistening element which is projectableupwardly through said opening, a hinged plate whose free edge isarranged to engage said moistening element for holding it raised, tapeholding means upon said hinged plate, and a cutter overhanging saidholder.

6. In a device of the character described,

awater receptacle, a cover plate therefor having an opening, a moistenermovably mounted within said receptacle and having a moistening elementwhich is projectable upwardly through said opening, a hinged plate whosefree edge is arranged to engage said moistening element for holding itraised, tape holding means upon said hinged plate, and a movable memberupon said cover plate at that side of said opening opposite the hingedplate, said movable member being operatively connected to the moistenerwhereby when said member is depressed it will raise the moisteningelement through said opening.

7. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a covertherefor having an opening, a swinging frame within the receptaclehaving an upwardly projecting moistening element to pass in saidopening, and a pivoted member carried by said cover to be raised by themoistening element and to drop behind said element tohold it in raisedposition.

8. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a covertherefor having a slot, a swinging frame within the receptacle having anupwardly projecting moistening element to pass through said slot,

tape holding means upon said cover at one side of said slot, and meansupon said cover at the other side of said slot for swinging said frameto raise the moistening element.

9. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a coverplate therefor having an opening, a swinging frame mounted within thereceptacle and having an upwardly projecting moistening element to passupwardly through said opening, and a movably mounted tape holderarranged to engage said moistening element when it is raised for holdingsame in such position.

10. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a coverplate therefor having an opening, a swinging frame mounted within thereceptacle and having an upwardly projecting moistening element to passupwardly through said opening, a

movably mounted tape holder arranged to engage said moistening elementwhen it is raised for holding same in such position, and a movablemember upon the cover plate at that side of said opening opposite thetape holder and operatively connected to said frame for raising themoistening element when said member is depressed.

11. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a coverplate therefor having an opening, a swinging frame mounted within thereceptacle and having an up wardly projecting moistening element movablethrough said opening, a hinged plate over said opening, the free edge ofthe hinged plate being engageable with the moistening element forholding it in raised position, tape holding means upon the hinged plate,and a tape cutter overhanging said hinged plate.

12. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a coverplate therefor having an opening, a swinging frame mounted within thereceptacle and having an upwardly projecting moistening element movablethrough said opening, a hinged plate over said opening, the free edge ofthe hinged plate being engageable with the moistening element forholding it in raised position, tape holding means upon the hinged plate,a plate hinged upon the cover plate at that side of said opening remotefrom the first mentioned hinged plate and operatively connected to saidframe for raising the moistening element when the second mentionedhinged plate is depressed.

13. In a device of the character described, a water receptacle, a coverplate therefor having an opening, a swinging frame mounted within thereceptacle and having a short arm and a long arm, an upwardly projectingmoistening element carried by the said long arm and movable upwardlythrough said opening, a hinged plate upon said cover plate, and a linkconnecting said short arm and hinged plate whereby when the hinged plateis depressed, the moistening element is raised through the said opening.

lat. In a device of the character-described, a water receptacle, and amoistener therein comprising a swinging frame mounted within thereceptacle and having a yoke at its free end, an upstanding felt holdercarried by said yoke, a doubled piece of felt disposed over said holder,and a clasp carried by the frame for clamping the edge portions of thefelt against said yoke.

15. In a device of the character described, a tape holder comprising aplate. having a lip and rib with a depression therebetween, a tapeholding strip hinged at one end to said plate and movable downwardly tohold said tape in said depression upon the lip and rib, and means fordetachably engaging the free end of said strip to said plate, the striphaving an upturned flange cooperating with said rib for holding the tapethereon.

16. A tape moistening device embodying a water receptacle having areservoir carrier, a cylindrical reservoir mounted for rotation in saidcarrier, said reservoir depending within the receptacle and having anaperture in its periphery, and a moistening ele ment movable downwardlywithin and upwardly out of said receptacle.

17. A tape moistening device embodying a water receptacle, an arcuatereservoir carrier having a depending spout portion fitting within thereceptacle, a rotatable cylindrical reservoir seated in said carrier anddepending within the receptacle, the periphery of the reservoir havingan aperture, and a moistening element movable downwardly within andupwardly out of said receptacle.

18. A tape moistening device embodying a receptacle having an arcuatereservoir carrier, a cylindrical reservoir mounted for rocation in saidcarrier and depending within the receptacle, the periphery of thereservoir having an aperture, an arcuate holder hinged to one terminalof said carrier, the other terminal of said carrier and free end of theholder having inter-engageable means, and a moistening element movabledownwardly within and upwardly out of said receptacle.

19. A tape moistening device embodying a receptacle having an arcuatereservoir car rier, a cylindrical reservoir mounted for ro-- tation insaid carrier and depending within the receptacle, the periphery of thereservoir having an aperture, a doubled rod forming a holder, theintermediate portion of said holder being hinged to one terminal of saidcarrier, and the holder having arouate limbs disposed over saidreservoir for holding it in place, the ends of said limbs havingoutturned fingers, the other terminal of said carrier having eyes inwhich said fingers en gage, and the periphery of the reservoir having anoutstanding finger piece working between said limbs of the holder, and amoistening element movable downwardly within and upwardly out of saidreceptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WARREN E. FLEMING.

Witnesses D. HLFLEMING, Gno. J. Lnnnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C.

